News, Happenings & Collaborations |
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Included in this Issue ... |
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- Take-aways from Beverage Summit
- Better Business Bureau offers webinars
- Pasta and Wine this Friday
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- FLX may become Nat'l Heritage Area
- B2B Meet Up this Wednesday
- Next Simpleview web training is Tuesday
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Visit Watkins Glen
& Schuyler County
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Watkins Glen
Area Chamber
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Enjoy a flight of take-aways and tips
A summary of the Wine & Craft Beverage Tourism Summit
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Several members of our region’s wine and craft-beer community plus Chamber members gathered virtually on Feb. 24 to discuss operations during a pandemic with an eye to the future, sharing lessons learned and successes gleaned from having to pivot business operations and marketing creativity.
Here are some tips and take-aways from the three-hour summit:
- It is becoming clear that the days of bellying up to the tasting bar — one after the other, randomly, unscheduled, and with large numbers — are a thing of the past. Many shared that it is actually overdue progress, while some noted they will miss the carefree way we “always did it.”
- Either way, it is important for everyone (hosts and vendors alike) to set expectations and concentrate on the offering and communicating how best to experience, follow, and enjoy the new rules, regulations, processes, and procedures for happy, returning, and good-paying customers.
- The most relevant and crucial point learned from the summit was to PLEASE implore your guests and visitors to ALWAYS CALL AHEAD TO ANY AND ALL TASTING ROOMS BEFORE VENTURING OUT OR SENDING OTHERS TO DO SO! These plans can be done a week or days in advance, but generally no later than the day of your guest’s experience.
- It is likely that a more curated experience for tasting rooms will need to be reserved, timed, and/or limited to seated groups of 4 to 6 (and perhaps a little larger).
- We see a positive trend that staff members have more quality time to spend with customers than in the past. They are able to share information in adequate time (an hour-ish is often suggested) and are allowed to feature a wider variety of beverages to customize tastings, influence progressing/progressive tastes, and open minds as well as wallets to more mutually beneficial selections and sales than in the past.
- Pinballing up and down a beverage trail is no longer the accepted and/or manageable way for many people to experience products and often groups cannot and will not be able to be accommodated.
- That said, it is important for organizations to communicate their current restrictions, capacities, hours, days and/or seasons, as well as specific groups that will not be allowed, with all frontline and sales employees and event planners, as well as transportation and tour operators. (WGACC is eager to discuss the finer points of these decisions with you at any time. Just give us a call.)
- Many tastings will incur a cost and at price points that may surprise many locals and/or regulars, but visitors — many just becoming familiar with the bounty of the Finger Lakes — will gladly pay, often extolling that the charge is still “a bargain” (especially in contrast to other experiences in other regions).
- Food may still be required as a separate purchase and add to the fees (through no choice of the purveyors but also thought by many to be a nice enhancement, upgrade, and/or upsell).
- Top priorities during the pandemic remain masking, sanitizing, physical distancing, and limiting capacities for both the public and staff in order to keep everyone safe, healthy, and respectful of varying boundaries.
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Hints from Hardy
Business and hospitality hints
from Michael Hardy
Celebrating the Finger Lakes Wine Country
Kudos to our beverage businesses who participated in our virtual Wine & Craft Beverage Tourism Summit in late February. They described what so many of you did to not just survive during 2020, but to thrive. I was preparing to share highlights from the summit in this newsletter when an article in “Crafting a BRAND” (https://craftingabrandco.com/), a newsletter from my friend Glenn Clark, was especially timely. The article hit on some excellent resounding themes of the discussions, including information and, frankly, the stories of triumphs, tribulations, threats, and trends, that I also heard from the participants during our close to three-hour conversation. Click here to read the article.
A Hardy Hello, Maiah, from The Glen we call Watkins!
I just read your article about Hermann Weimer's, and it is really well written. You were 99% on point with what you learned and shared about one of the MANY wineries who excelled magnificently through creative, constant, and challenging Pivoting (yes, with a capital P) through the fire that is this pandemic (still menacingly effecting every walk of life).
Your 1% deficiency (which some may grade more unforgivingly) is that you equated our marvelous Finger Lakes Wine Country with a California wine region to somehow give us credibility and standing. I am a tourism professional of many years and a winery alum (Casa Larga Vineyards — yes, your very own ROC favorite, back in the late 1980s, before the world really knew who we are and what wonderful wines/adult beverages of all kinds we produce and how amazingly beautiful our landscapes, sites, and people are). I have taken great pride in the uniqueness of what we who live, work, play, and experience here on a daily basis makes the entire way of life special and more extra-ordinary than most places on earth, nonetheless in the USA. I am an advocate for not diminishing any of that by an all-too-often comparison, when, frankly, the Finger Lakes, though less than the treasured secret it used to be (to its own detriment historically until now), is the gem others might and should be measured by.
All that said, please continue to enjoy the adventures you make throughout this 14-county region, meet with and collect more of these tremendous stories of the heroes who birthed so many phoenixes from this terrible year — we have a lot of them — and how grand you get to sip and share their creations along the way. If I can be of service as you plot your future journeys, please let me know.
Until then, be safe, healthy, and as happy as this crazy world (and our FLX elixirs) allow you to be.
Hospitably,
Michael
P.S. The writer has replied and was appreciative to receive the feedback. She looks forward to visiting more wineries and working with the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce to plan future adventures.
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Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Ireland isn't the only part of the world that is magically blessed with green rolling hills. We have 16,259 acres of the National Forest, as well as 9,085 acres of Sugar Hill State Forest, right here in Schuyler County. We are so lucky!
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Let the Chamber know about
your events and spring traditions
Let us help you celebrate spring traditions, holidays, and festivities! We want to share your events on our social media platforms and newsletters. Like us on all our social channels (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) and we’ll return the favor! One such tradition coming up this week is Harbor Hotel’s St. Patrick’s Day menu, featuring traditional Irish dishes. Another way we all can learn of your events is by posting events on explorewatkinsglen.com. All members are invited to share their information on the Chamber’s website. Need help learning how? Join us for this month’s website training tomorrow!
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The next Simpleview training is 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 16
Mark your calendar for this month’s Simpleview training on March 16. The web is your best marketing tool. The Chamber’s new website (explorewatkinsglen.com) offers many benefits for members. This month’s training will help you make the most of these benefits. Discover all of your options to connect with potential customers and ask questions during this live training.
One of the benefits is the ability to list your business in up to four sub-categories. Each member is assigned a category upon joining the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce. Members are able to choose descriptive sub-categories. Please make up to four selections of sub-categories by downloading this document. You can submit the document with updates, including business name and contact information, via email, in person, or by mail. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, please let us know!
Zoom Link for the March 16 training: Tomorrow!
Meeting ID: 845 7188 3465
Passcode: 505818
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Next B2B Meet Up
is Wednesday, March 17
The next Business to Business (“B2B”) will be Wednesday, March 17 from 2 to 3 p.m. via Zoom. Attendees will have the opportunity to share updates regarding their business/organization during our "Around the Screen" portion of the program. The "B2B Meet Up" is a monthly networking and business exchange program. Guest speaker will be Melanie McGovern of the Better Business Bureau.
Meeting ID: 815 3020 0081
Passcode: 538028
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Coffee Connections
is next Tuesday, March 23
Join our next Coffee Connections networking meeting on Tuesday, March 23 at 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. The hour will be comprised of speed networking, as members have the chance to share updates from their business, learn about other Chamber members and current happenings, and get an update from Chamber Executive Director Michael Hardy.
Meeting ID: 894 1470 8608
Passcode: 236355
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Join us March 23
for 'Talking Tuesdays'
Chat with Executive Director Michael Hardy about the pressing issues for tourism-based businesses. The next "Talking Tuesdays" will be 12 to 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 23. These sessions are comprised of brainstorming, planning, information from the Chamber, and from time to time a guest speaker. All tourism-based members and partners are welcome. All sessions are held via Zoom, and advance RSVP is not required. Coffee break, snacking and /or brown-bag lunches during zoom are encouraged.
Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 874 4108 3852
Passcode: 896020
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Seneca Lake Wine Trail hosts "Pasta and Wine" Event
Sample pasta-themed dishes alongside Seneca Lake wine during the Pasta and Wine event on Friday, March 19. Since the event is one day only, we hope you’ll make a weekend of it. Spend the day at the event wineries on Friday and use the rest of the weekend to visit the many other wineries along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. Ticket holders will receive an to visit six wineries, with tickets sold by tables of four.
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Sam Sprague is "Artist in Focus"
for March at Franklin Street Gallery
The Franklin Street Gallery at 209 N. Franklin Street in Watkins Glen presents the work of Sam Sprague throughout the month of March as its “Artist in Focus” exhibition. The artwork may also be viewed online at https://www.franklinstreetgallery.org/. Please remember, the art you purchase from Franklin Street Gallery supports the Arc of Chemung-Schuyler. Art from the gallery is also for sale at the Chamber's Visitor Center and Graft restaurant.
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Member News & Collaborations |
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Lions donate $10,000
to Schuyler Hospital
A joint effort between the Watkins Glen-Montour Falls, Hector, and Ovid Lions clubs and the Bermuda Lions Foundation resulted in the presentation of a $10,000 check last week to Schuyler Hospital for the purchase of a diabetic eye camera.
“We are grateful for and humbled by this donation from the Lions Clubs local and national organizations, and for their continuous support of our community during this time, and always,” states Rebecca Gould, President and CFO of Schuyler Hospital. “This new state-of-the-art diabetic eye camera is used for early detection of diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness in diabetic patients. It will be an incredible asset to our medical team and our patients.”
The donation stems from a coordinated effort initiated by Jackie Collins, LPN, Schuyler Hospital Primary Care, who reached out to Hector Lions Club member Rick Evans in 2020.
Evans coordinated with the Watkins and Ovid clubs during a challenging period when the COVID-19 pandemic greatly restricted fund-raising efforts. Members of his club and neighboring clubs raised $6,000 and received $4,000 from the Lions Foundation matching program.
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Photo Caption: Jackie Collins, LPN, Schuyler Hospital Primary Care; Tiffany Bloss, Director, Schuyler Health Foundation; and Rebecca Gould, President, Schuyler Hospital, receive a $10,000 donation for a diabetic eye camera from Phil Edwards, President, Hector Area Lions Club; Kate LaMoreaux, President, Watkins Glen-Montour Falls Lions Club, and Paul McPherson, President, Ovid-Willard Lions Club. |
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Workforce Development Survey
The goals of this survey are to understand the current and anticipated needs of the business community and better outline where/how to position resources related to training and hiring programs and initiatives. The survey will close this Friday, March 19.
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SUNY CCC professor releases book
SUNY Corning Community College Professor Edward Dougherty has released Journey Work: Crafting a Life of Poetry & Spirit. The book features 18 personal essays that document his journey as a writer. Discover more at https://edwarddougherty.wordpress.com/
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Better Business Bureau
offers March webinars
As a member of the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce, you are able to benefit from offerings of the Better Business Bureau, including three free webinars in March.
Managing Your Online Reputation
Tuesday, March 16
10 to 11 a.m.
Online reputation is the reputation of a company, person, product, service, or any other element on the internet. This can be managed by taking control of your public information. Join Better Business Bureau's Melanie McGovern and Lauren Kirchmyer for an overview of online reputation management—from your website to your customer reviews, social media, and everything in between.
Optimizing Your Instagram Profile for Success
Wednesday, March 17
12 to 1:30 p.m.
Presented by our partners at the Niagara Small Business Development Center. Join us as we welcome Instagram expert Jenn Herman, who will give tips and tactics to help you optimize your Instagram profile. Learn how to optimize your Instagram profile, with valuable tips and tactics. Hear what is most important in an Instagram search, discover how to write a profile bio that attracts new followers, and master the skills to drive website traffic and sales.
Understanding How the Instagram Algorithm Works
Wednesday, March 24
12 to 1:30 p.m.
Presented by our partners at the Niagara Small Business Development Center. Demystify Instagram’s algorithm and learn actionable content strategies.
For more information please contact Melanie McGovern
at (716) 276-3738 or mmcgovern@upstatenybbb.org.
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Public input sought
to designate FLX region
National Heritage Area
The Finger Lakes region of New York is under consideration for designation as a National Heritage Area. Currently, the National Park Service is studying the feasibility of designating 14 counties of the Finger Lakes region as a National Heritage Area.
Public input is sought by the National Park Service, with the 90-day comment period under way and continuing through June 1, 2021. To offer your thoughts, please submit your comments via this link: NPS PEPC - Documents Open For Review
“Input from the public regarding the creation of a national heritage area in the Finger Lakes is critical to the study process. We also hope to learn more about the region from the people who know it best,” said Allen Cooper, regional chief of planning, National Park Service. “The information, interest and inquiries we receive from the public help inform our work as we assess the Finger Lakes as a potential National Heritage Area.”
The lengthy process of designating an area as a National Heritage Area has continued virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can learn more here about what is a National Heritage Area. Visiting this link will take you to updates about the study on making Finger Lakes a National Heritage Area.
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Tips for mindset reframing
for a more harmonious workplace
Clinical Associates of the Southern Tier shares workplace tips related to reframing your mindset in their blog this week. In short, the frame through which a person views a situation determines their point-of-view. When that frame is shifted, the meaning changes and thinking and behavior often change along with it. Ask yourself, "Is there another way to look at this situation?" Read the blog https://www.clinicalassociates.org/reframe-your-mindset.
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THIS SPACE RESERVED FOR LODGING MEMBERS
Any and all lodging members are welcome to share their winter specials
with the Chamber, to help spread the word here in our e-news
and on our social media platforms and website. Shoot us a note, please.
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Paid time off to receive COVID-19 vaccination
Cuomo has signed legislation granting employees time off to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Under this new law, public and private employees will be granted up to four hours of excused leave per shot that will not be charged against any other leave the employee has earned or accrued. This legislation is in effect now.
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Upstate restaurants can open
this Friday at 75% indoor capacity
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on March 7, that restaurants outside of New York City may open at 75 percent indoor capacity beginning this Friday, March 19.
"The data has shown that restaurants can operate safely and in accordance with strict health protocols at 75 percent capacity," stated a state-issued news release.
Also, beginning March 5, billiard halls were able to re-open statewide, as were movie theaters in New York City. Beginning today, March 15, weddings and catered events can resume statewide.
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Interim COVID-19 guidance for food services |
The "Interim Guidance for Food Services" during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency was created to provide owners/operators of food service businesses and their employees and contractors with precautions to help protect against the spread of COVID-19.
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Small business guidance and
loan resources during COVID-19
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SBA offers several different relief options to help businesses, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
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New York's health insurance
Open Enrollment Period now extended
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that New York's health insurance Open Enrollment Period will be further extended to May 15, 2021, aligning with states across the country. Click here to learn more
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Schuyler County expands vaccine eligibility |
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PROMOTE YOUR NEWS AND EVENTS
Add your happenings to the Public Events Calendar on our website!
Add your event quickly, easily, and at no cost. Click here for the submission page.
SHARE YOUR NEWS — VIA CHAMBER SOCIAL MEDIA & ENEWS
We will gladly feature your upcoming events and news on our social media channels and in our newsletter.
Contact Michael at (585) 721-6032 or send him your news
CONNECT WITH THE CHAMBER TEAM
Office Phone: (607) 535-4300
Katherine Jack, Visitor Center and Office Administrator email
Abby Lane, Events and Membership-Engagement Manager email
Stephanie Specchio Director of Communications and Marketing email
Karen Dodson, Membership (Part-Time/Contract) email
Michael Hardy, Executive Director email and (585) 721-6032 (cell)
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